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Nova - World in the Balance - The Population Paradox :: 1593751435
Description
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| It took all of human history until 1800 for the world’s population to reach its first billion. Now we add a new billion nearly every dozen years. Over the next half century, 98 percent of that growth will take place in our planet's poorest regions. And as the global total swells to nearly 9 billion by 2050, the social and environmental strains will be enormous. Through vivid personal stories, The People Paradox reveals many startling trends. In Japan, Europe and Russia, birth rates are shrinking and the population is aging. But in parts of India and Africa, more than half of the still growing population is under 25. The surprising conclusion: world population is now careening in two dramatically different directions. The second hour, China Revs Up, is an insider’s look at China’s booming economy and its growing impact on the environment. What will happen as China follows America’s affluent lifestyle and begins to rival the U.S. as the world’s biggest polluter? In this groundbreaking, worldwide investigation of humanity’s future, NOVA shows how decisions made now will change the fate of everyone over the next fifty years. Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired. On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed. Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
World in Balance contains two excellent Nova segments: "China Revs Up" and "The Population Paradox". I recommend it for its watchable, compassionate treatments that allow us to see the rest of the world in human terms and to understand our complex economic interdependencies with other countries.
That's the summary. Some things that particularly interested me follow...
First, I'm TIRED of the scare tactics in some modern books about how China will outstrip the U.S. economically and we better watch out. Watch this DVD and you will see PEOPLE and KIDS who are experiencing the SAME THINGS WE ARE, namely, improved food clothing shelter transportation AND the dilemma of dealing with pollution. The Four Wheeler Club film shots are particularly fun to watch as novices learn to drive out of some BIG gullies. Being in love with SUV's is not unique to Americans! It brings it home that dealing with economic growth and ecologic balance is everyone's challenge. For example, China will probably need to import HUGE quantities of food from the United States to free itself up to further improve industrially. That is a constructive, beneficial partnerhip in the making, not a destructive competition. For another example, ALL THE CARS IN CHINA are made by foreign manufacturers INCLUDING the United States. However, the Chinese government DOES need to impose rigorous pollution standards for Chinese-made cars as are imposed in the U.S. and Europe. There is a fascinating opening segment about measuring industrial pollution in California's west coast blown all the way across the Pacific Ocean from China's east coast!
Equally fascinating is the program on "The Population Paradox". I worked on population models in graduate school and have followed them ever since with interest. This segment clearly and watchably addresses the issues of managing (or at least being aware of) population growth including cultural (e.g., sons vs. daughters; women working as well as men) and demographic (e.g., age distribution) issues. A key factor is fertility education and economic liberation of women in developing countries. The more educated the child, the better-paying the job they can achieve... BUT the higher it costs the parents to bring it up. This leads to having FEWER children and taking better care of them (education AND health care). China has managed to control its birthrate to the point where it is stablizing and INDIA will soon be most populous in the world, surpassing China. But a surprise, the UNITED STATES has 3rd largest population! A major reason is immigration of younger folks which keeps us economically viable. Japan has LOST population. One key factor is the average number of children born per woman (2.0 is the magic number to maintain steady population, but Japan is at 1.35 and won't allow immigration).
I like these segments because they treat complex issues understandably, and because they put human faces on the countries that are key in our present and future, such as Japan, China, India, Africa).
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Author: Guest
This type of movies are a must for everyone who claims to live in a modern world. Covers a great deal about the rise and fall of population in many countires accross the world like India, China, Japan and U.S. Discusses the cons and pros of increasing as well as decreaing population in some of the above mentioned countries. Also includes the extra feature about China that covers the industrial revolution in China over the last 25 years, its merits and deadly effects on envoirnment. All in all a must see.
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